Hey folks! It’s getting hot outside and we are still social distancing, so we are getting tons of reading done. Here are our picks for the best comics from July 2020.
Marcus Orchard – Death or Glory #11
Death or Glory is a special series that is just fun to read. Death or Glory #11 is the final issue of the series and wraps everything up beautifully. It’s full of action, emotion, and some of Bengal’s best art in the series. Getting a nice ending feels like a luxury nowadays, so I’m definitely not taking this one for granted. Rick Remender has created some masterpieces with Image Comics, and this series should be in the discussion with the rest of them.
Christopher Green – Chainsaw Man Chapter 78
While not the chapter I rated highest this month, Chainsaw Man chapter 78 stuck with me the most. With Aki’s transformation into the Gun Fiend and his subsequent hunting of Denji, things can only get worse for our heroes. Denji and Aki’s fight juxtaposed with them as kids having a snowball fight left me feeling hollow in the best way, and while I want to read the next chapter as soon as possible I know it will only continue to hurt me
Alexander Cole – Lost Soldiers #1
I admit this comic doesn’t really break any new ground. There have been comics tackling subjects like PTSD and the horrors of war in the past. Lost Soldiers #1 just does it so well in this debut issue though. The way the art is used, the soldiers seeing the ghosts of their comrades reflected in other people, it’s just a fantastic way to display the trauma inflicted upon them. The dialogue is great and it doesn’t try to make these old veterans into some ridiculously muscular stereotype like so many comics have in the past. It’s just realistic and extremely well-written. I appreciate that given the sea of cartoonish superhero comics I’ve read throughout this month.
Casey Woods – Not Even Bones Episodes 39 – 43
My Webtoon Pick of the month for July has to be “Not Even Bones” by Stephen Lamm and Alai Cinereo. The last few updates of this Webtoon have been insane! Just when you think the story is winding down for a minute, it picks right back up with another twist. I appreciate the way it keeps you on your toes, wondering what could possibly happen to our main character next. Specifically episodes 40-43. Fans of the series that are behind in reading should definitely catch up! How will Nita survive the dangerous situation she’s found herself in, now? Can she trust her new companion? I’m excited to find out!
Hunter Sandlin – Doom Patrol: Weight of the Worlds #7
This is the last issue of Doom Patrol: Weight of the Worlds and is likely to be the last Gerard Way Doom Patrol we get. The issue itself doesn’t do anything special for the grand finale, it’s just another great installment of Weight of the Worlds. You get to see each member play a part in a 22 issue adventure, there is a fun storytelling device, every character gets to participate, amazing art from Nick Derington, and key catching colors from Tara Bonvillian. Similar to previous issues in this run, it ends on a conclusion for this issue but the promise of more things to come. Jeremy Lambert co-wrote this series so maybe he will pick up the mantle and continue this weird team’s crazy adventures. Until then I will be eagerly waiting for the Weight of The Worlds trade to hit the shelves. Any Doom Patrol fan should check out this issue but know you will be confused if you haven’t kept up with Way’s work.
Brandon Carlisle – Tartarus #4
Tartarus has built a creative science-fiction world with multiple engaging storylines, and this issue is where it feels like it’s reaching its full potential. With so much going on, the pacing of this series is really good, and there are new details of this world being introduced constantly. This is an ambitious series, and sometimes the art struggles to convey what other-worldly events are taking place, but the story is more than enough to keep me engaged. This issue in particular sets up a new subplot while also developing the characters further and still manages to include an exciting action scene. So much is accomplished in this one issue, and I’m excited to see how this arc concludes.
Ethan Maddux – Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #12
Superman’s Pal: Jimmy Olsen #12 serves as a delightful capper to the best DC book of the year. It backs off ever so slightly on the zaniness to neatly tie up the loose ends of an intentionally disjointed series and does so with poise. The combination of Matt Fraction and Steve Leiber’s unconventional sensibilities makes for a series that is more than memorable. It’s an outstanding achievement.
Steven Martinez – Spider-Woman #2
There’s a bias here for me since Spider-Woman is one of my favorite characters. But I am also genuinely enjoying this new series. The story from Karla Pacheco is taking some deeper cuts of the character’s history, and giving us an interesting new chapter in Spider-Woman lore. And the art from Pere Perez and Frank D’Armata is fantastic.
